Restaurant Reviews
Montclair Social Club is a Sophisticated Standout
February 20, 2019
A large and long-vacant comedy club has been transformed into Montclair’s newest hot spot.
Casey and Jason Simkins, veterans of the Stephen Starr restaurant group, have finally achieved their dream of opening their own restaurant.
Sam Freund, known for cofounding a funky sandwich joint, opens a stunning restaurant on the very spot where his parents once dated.
An offshoot of a venerable and beloved bakery in Brooklyn, this bustling restaurant offers a large selection of Italian favorites.
At Kabab Paradise in Lake Hiawatha, the Saleh family serves a variety of tasty Afghan-inspired dishes as well as indulgences like the Mars Burger.
Cambo Box in New Brunswick has found a devoted following among Rutgers students for its small but highly customizable menu of modern Cambodian dishes. It's also a convenient quick lunch spot if you’re on jury duty at the nearby courthouse.
For and Against the Grain: Grain & Cane in Berkeley Heights
January 23, 2019
The restaurant, which opened last May, is bringing excitement to its part of Union County, in an attractive faux-industrial space, with some appealing dishes. But overall it needs to execute dishes more consistently.
At Holy Tomato in Blackwood, customers sit at close-set tables under ornamental lights and quippy signs to enjoy whole pizzas (no slices) and novelties like cheesecake in warm butter-rum sauce.
“Hands of Gold”: Valentina’s in Northfield
January 16, 2019
That is how chef Rosaria Conti’s skill with dough is described by Paula Giordano, her business partner. It's a just description for Conti’s pizzas and pastas. But he says not all of Valentina’s menu meets that golden standard.
At Gayeon in Fort Lee, a Beautiful Encounter
January 2, 2019
The Korean word "Gayeon" translates to "beautiful encounter" into English. With few exceptions, the restaurant lives up to its name.
You’ll taste the South in virtually everything from chicken, meat and seafood to mashed potatoes and black-eyed peas at this down-home eatery.
Owners Cory and Natalie Reuss met in Austin, Texas before moving to Collingswood. The couple opened Macona BBQ over the summer in the space that once held Sweet Freedom Bakery.
That, more or less, is what noted chef James Avery (of the Bonney Read in Asbury Park) set out to create with his “neighborhood kitchen” Farmly.
SEAK and You Shall Find Eclectic Asian: SEAK in Edgewater
December 18, 2018
SEAK (Southeast Asian Kitchen) in Edgewater, serves mostly Vietnamese and Thai food in a colorful contemporary space with a few tables offering Hudson River views.
Tasty New Life For An Old Storefront: Broadmoor in Lambertville
December 12, 2018
After running Rick’s in Lambertville for 13 years, chef Alex Cormier thought he was done with restaurants until his business partner pulled him back in. Together they reinvented the Broadmoor, a long-shuttered Lambertville institution.
Craveable Crossroad: Central + Main in Madison
December 5, 2018
Leia Gaccione’s second place named for cross streets elevates the intersection of familiar and amazing.
Giovanna Germinario and her family run Giovanna’s Cafe. As Sabrina Bush writes, it's a small, homey place for breakfast and lunch with an Italian-American accent.
Try Division Cafe in Somerville, where there are about half a dozen different varieties of empanadas. While you’re there, try some of the other Latin-American specialties.
Neptune’s Hippest Bar Scene: The Grand Tavern in Neptune
November 15, 2018
The Grand Tavern in Neptune has earned a loyal following, especially from local chefs, bartenders and sommeliers. The food is good, if uneven, but the reason the place is rocking is the quality of its bar scene.
The menu is vast at Pho 9 Vietnamese in Cherry Hill, but servers will help you find your way. And psst: portions are huge.